Hauntingly cold Halloween

Well Halloween was extra cold this year, but thank goodness for the costumes that we had for the boys and they were able to wear nice warm winter hats. The ones that were cold were me and Mat.  But we had a great time. Hope you like our theme we did.  We had this planned since last year when my sister found out she was having her fourth boy, making 7 total between the 2 of us.  The other pictures are from my sister's Halloween party that she does every year. We LOVE it, although our costumes were not ready by this point, so we are in different costumes.

Disneyland October 2010

I know that I'm late with Disneyland photos and all, but it's been WAY too crazy around here. Well, we were able to start off the trip pretty well until we got outside of Mesquite and Hayden got sick from the windy canyon. (I think I spelled that right.) Anyway, so that was interesting, but I think he just got a little car sick and nothing like the flu.  Then we stopped at my Uncle Steve's house and had dinner with them and stayed the night.  I love having family to make the trip not so long.  The boys were so excited to be there and excited for the adventure of driving another 6 hours the next day.  Every time we stopped they would ask, "Is this DISNEYLAND?" and every time we would have to say, no.  But we finally made it to Disneyland and our hotel to find out that our hotel was extra busy because of all the Utah and Arizona travelers and we couldn't park our car at our hotel and had to take it to a sister-hotel down the way, and we couldn't check-in till around 4 and it was 2.  So we got all our stuff out of the car and put it in their storage area, drove the car to the other hotel, shuttled back to our hotel and then walked over to Disneyland.  It was very interesting and one of the only downfalls to the whole trip.  We were able to meet up with Mat's family and even a few friends from UT.  It was AWESOME!!!!  We didn't do a whole lot in the park, but the first character we saw was SNOW WHITE!!  It was so cool for the fact that I was dressing up as Snow White for Halloween. The other problem was that we left one camera in the car and the other at the hotel in the storage area, so thank goodness for technology and we were able to use Mat's phone.
I won't go into the day to day details, but we were able to see more characters than we ever thought we would.  During the week was better than on the weekends.  There were too many people on Saturday and SOOO many lines that were more than an hour and that was too much for us.  I definitely will go back during the week over the weekend.  Friday wasn't too bad, but Saturday was AWFUL!! We were able to go to the new attraction, World of Color and it was beautiful and breathtaking.  We got to the show that was really late, not the latest, but it was 10 at night when the show started and Corbin and Hayden were asleep and slept the whole time.  There were times of frustration with family members and lots of miscommunication, but when is there a trip that doesn't have a lot of that.  My favorite parade was the Pixar parade in California Adventures where you see all the Pixar characters and it wasn't as crowded as the Disneyland parades.  The boys had a great time to say the least.  They keep asking when we can go back, which is up in the air, but we will definitely go back.  Hope you enjoy the pictures and see how much fun we were able to have as a family.

Abundance of Strength and Hope in Life's Journey

As I have been getting things ready for our family to move in the next month or so I find this abundance of strength helping me, and pushing me along, and I wanted to share this article I found on Time Out For Women that totally describes how I feel and it was amazing and hope you find a little bit of peace and joy in your journeys of life.

Natalie Nyman

October 19, 2010

I look through my to-do lists and see evidence of the roles I play and the absence of the roles I want. There are articles to read, errands to run, sisters to visit, laundry to do, papers to write, spinning classes to attend, and scriptures to study. There are family members who need love, friends who need support, and decisions to make about dating. From the moment I wake until the time when my head returns to its pillow, life is constantly in motion. Sometimes I look at the schedule and post-it notes and paper reminders of goals I've set and feel like the apostles asked to feed the 5000. There is not enough time, not enough energy, not enough me. I look in the mirror and then back at my planner and wonder if the tasks of the day, week, month or year will ever translate into who I want to see in my reflection.

In these moments I find comfort in the life and example of my Savior. The Redeemer of the World, the Chosen Messiah, the Christ- my Perfect friend - had a moment of mortality when His cross was too heavy. Until He could carry it again, an unknown man shouldered His burden. I think of this man, of the privilege it would have been to serve the Savior between the bitter cups of Gethsemane and Calvary. And then I think of those who have likewise seen me struggling to carry my load and who have silently and tenderly walked with me, bearing my burden until my strength returned.

I remember family members, friends, teachers, and even strangers coming to my rescue in these times of need, people who understood and lived the covenants taught on the banks of the waters of Mormon. Truly, their hearts had internalized the principles of bearing others' burdens and mourning with those that mourn. But ultimately, I discover hope in knowledge born of experience and testimony that my Perfect friend, Jesus Christ, walks with me. He waits for me to drop my cross at His feet and pick up His yoke. "Even as He calls us to come to Him and follow Him, he is unfailingly running to help us. However halting our steps are toward Him -- though they shouldn't be halting at all -- His steps are never halting toward us" (Elder Holland, "Come Unto Me" April 1998 Ensign).

As I have run to Him, I have felt Him at my side, fulfilling promises uttered in ancient and modern times. I find hope not in my own capacities and successes, but in the realization developed over time that there is no righteous journey I embark on alone.

Nikol update!

Along with all the changes that have been going on with the leaves changing and our lifestyle changing, my body continues to do things that totally CONFUSE ME!!!  I went to the specialty doctor last Wednesday to find that I confused yet another doctor, which is getting really old and I really want to find out what is going on with my stomach. So he put me on some medicine that will hopefully help me out and in 6 weeks I get to go back for a little procedure to see if it is doing something to help out.  So far, I feel the same and nothing has changed and its been a week.  Maybe there is something they are not seeing and hopefully will be able to find it in 6 weeks.

Family life update!

On Thursday Sept 30, 2010 I got a text from Mat.  Something that happens everyday, right, but this was a different text.  It said, "As of Dec 24th I will no longer have a job!"  I thought that it was a joke or something, but it's true.  Mat is being let go and now we are making choices for our family that will take us else where. He will be getting a severance of 2wks per year he has worked for Ziplocal, which is 2 years so all of January we get paid and after that we will have to see.

Mat is thinking of going back to school at USU in Business Marketing! So our family might be moving to LOGAN, UT!!!  Back up to Logan after 5 years of being away, almost 6 years!  Can't believe it!  It will definitely be a change of pace for our family. We actually having been thinking of going back to school and the Sunday before Mat found out from work (which they could have done ON Christmas Eve) about going to school at USU.  Funny how the Lord works sometimes.  This was the needed push, almost, to get us going.  We are a little scared for the change of pace, and being students again and being away from family, but this is where the Lord needs us and He will provide as long as we do all that we can.

OCTOBER!!!!

I love OCTOBER!!!  Not only is Halloween on the way, but it's officially fall and the color of the leaves is splendid, the temperatures are some what cooler and its time for wonderful fall, harvesting activities.  Not only is canning pretty much done, but I get to enjoy more time with the boys outside having fun.  Oh, and I can't forget that it's also time for CONFERENCE!!!  The last few weeks have been really crazy, but fun!

First off, I was able to go to the Relief Society Meeting AT the Conference Center.  Our Stake was given so many tickets per ward and I grabbed 4.  One for me, my mom, my sister Apryl and my dear sister-in-law Leslie.  It was AMAZING!!!  We started off the evening picking up everybody so we could go to dinner before the meeting rather than after.  We ate at the Olive Garden which was in walking distance from the Conference Center and then we walked on up for the meeting.

It was an amazing meeting!!!  Very powerful on how to be better women in the church and better women in general! Awesome to spend it with 3 amazing women in my life.  Wish I could have spent it with all amazing women in my life, but only so many tickets.

Second, FALL COLORS!!!!!  I love living so close to a beautiful, scenic canyon.  The Mount Nebo Loop is in my backyard, (well, technically in my front yard but you know what I mean)!  We went up a couple weeks ago and saw the colors and then stopped off in Santaquin Canyon and roasted hot dogs and had fun playing in the dirt.  That's what boys do best right?!? The next day Mat and I were able to go up the Canyon and hike the Mount Loafer trail and although we got onto the wrong trail at one point and never made up on top of Mount Loafer, it was still a great time to spend with my husband and in nature.  LOVED IT!!!
Here are some of the pictures we took:

This is the stream in Santaquin Canyon and I had fun taking the picture and playing with the camera!

 Finishing the hike!

 Mount Loafer Trail

 Top of Payson Canyon towards Camp KoHoLoWo

Me and my best friend!

Third, playing outside with the boys harvest style!!! We were able to go to the Rowley Farm in Santaquin, which we do every year, to take the hayride to the pumpkin patch and take lots of cute pictures!!!  It was great this year!  The boys look forward to every year!

The 6 boys! Too cute!

Cute lil Andrew Durrant!

My most recent family photo until this Saturday!

Finally, CONFERENCE!!! With our Stake getting tickets this year, our bishop let us all know in the ward that there were tickets for the Saturday Afternoon session and Mat and I took the opportunity to go!!  It was awesome.  Mat's mom watched the boys and took them to their cousin's birthday party. And Mat and I went to conference!  It was amazing to say the least!  It's amazing how you feel in the presence of the prophet and apostles. There were so many answers to our many questions that are happening in our life right now, but that will have to be in a later post.  :)  We were able to eat a sack lunch on Temple Square before the session started and then walk around Temple Square for a little bit.  It was amazing to feel the unity of everyone wanting to listen to the prophet.

 Temple Shot with the American Flag!

 Outside of the Conference Center, it was nice and hot and VERY bright!

Us in the Conference Center